Revolutionary War's End

Objective

Students will be able to (SWBAT):

1. Summarize the key events leading to the end of the American Revolutionary War.
2. Analyze the significance of the Treaty of Paris (1783) and its immediate effects on the colonies, Great Britain, and Native Americans.
3. Connect the post-war challenges to the development of the United States as an independent nation.

Curriculum Standards (KY Academic Standards for Social Studies):

• SS-8.1.1: Examine the causes, major events, and consequences of the American Revolution.
• SS-8.3.3: Evaluate the impact of significant documents, including the Treaty of Paris, on the development of the United States.
• SS-8.4.2: Investigate how interactions between different cultures and regions shaped the social, political, and economic aspects of the United States.

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Materials Needed

• Copies of a simplified map of territories post-Treaty of Paris
• Excerpts from the Treaty of Paris with key clauses highlighted
• Chart paper and markers (for group activity)
• Bell-ringer sheets (short warmup question for their desks)
• A soft foam ball (for an interactive discussion session)

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Lesson Outline

1. Bell-Ringer Activity (5 minutes)

• Task: Students answer this prompt on a sheet at their desks:
  "If you had to make peace after a long conflict, what key terms would you include to make sure it’s fair to everyone involved? Write 2–3 ideas."
• Discussion: After two minutes of individual thinking, ask a few students to share their responses. Relate this hypothetical scenario to a war situation and segue into the Revolutionary War's conclusion.

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2. Mini-Lecture: End of the War (10 minutes)

• Use a large map or projector to show key battles leading to the war’s end, focusing on Yorktown (1781). Explain how the Franco-American alliance played a pivotal role in forcing British surrender.
• Transition into the negotiation process for the Treaty of Paris (signed in 1783). Emphasize:
  • The main American negotiators: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.
  • The key terms: recognition of U.S. independence, defined borders (to the Mississippi River), fishing rights in Newfoundland, and British withdrawal from forts.
  • The exclusion of Native American representation and its consequences.

Tip for engaging delivery: Periodically pause and ask students “Why do you think this was important to the Americans/British?” to involve critical thinking.

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3. Group Activity: Treaty Takeaways (15 minutes)

1. Grouping: Divide the students into 6 groups of 4 (ensure mixed abilities). Assign each group a stakeholder (e.g., Americans, British Crown, Loyalists, Native Americans, African Americans, and French).
2. Instructions: Each group must:
   • Read a short scenario card describing the viewpoint of their stakeholder post-war (provided by teacher).
   • Discuss the effects of the Treaty of Paris on their stakeholder.
   • Summarize their perspective in 3–4 sentences on chart paper.
3. Share Out: Groups present their perspectives to the class (1–2 minutes per group). Use guiding questions:
   • "Did the Treaty positively or negatively impact this group?"
   • "What challenges did they face after the treaty?"

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4. Interactive Discussion: Catch the Question (10 minutes)

• Use a foam ball to spark an engaging teacher-led, student-centered discussion.
• Rules: The teacher asks questions and tosses the foam ball to a student to answer. After answering, that student tosses the ball to another classmate, and the process repeats. Questions can include:
  • “Why did Great Britain recognize U.S. independence?”
  • “How did the U.S. benefit from new borders?”
  • “What mistakes, if any, were made during the treaty negotiations?”

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5. Reflection and Exit Ticket (10 minutes)

• Reflection Question (2 minutes): “Imagine you are George Washington post-war. What are your biggest worries about America’s future in 1783?” Brief whole-class brainstorm; write responses on the board.
• Exit Ticket (independent work): Students write 2–3 sentences answering:
  • "What was one major accomplishment of the Treaty of Paris?"
  • "What was one major challenge America faced immediately after the war?"

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Homework

• Read a short passage about the Articles of Confederation (provided by the teacher). Write two questions you have about the challenges faced by the new nation.

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Differentiation

• For advanced learners: Challenge these students to think beyond the Treaty of Paris. Ask them to hypothesize how its terms set the stage for future conflicts, like the War of 1812 or westward expansion.
• For struggling learners: Provide additional scaffolding such as sentence frames or annotated copies of the Treaty of Paris excerpts. Pair them with peer buddies during group work.

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Assessment

• Formative: Evaluate comprehension during class discussion, group presentations, and interactive “Catch the Question” activity.
• Summative: Analyze responses on the exit ticket and assess the depth of understanding through homework.

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Teacher Notes

• Highlight the nuanced consequences of the Treaty and its exclusions (e.g., Native Americans, Loyalists) to encourage empathy and critical analysis. This will build connections to future units on early U.S. government and westward expansion.
• Foster a collaborative and nonjudgmental environment where all voices are valued during group and class discussions.